Pageant News

A very brief outline of our last two weeks – sorry it’s a bit late, but blame the intermittent internet (and my lack of staying power!!) Oh, and in addition to paying out sponsorship, we were also giving out letter forms on which the children write to their sponsors, and taking new photos of children as well…  I would not like you to think we were slacking!!  I have limited myself to one photo per day - very difficult...

Sat 15^th Feb

Bakau and nearby area – sponsorship paid out for 15 children

Sun 16^th Feb

Saw Samba, now in Police Force, will qualify for accelerated promotion scheme after final year at MDI – agreed payment over 6 months.  Wellingara,  Abuko, Tallinding areas - sponsorship paid out for 9 children and agreed to take 3 more onto our 'waiting' webpage. 

Mon 17^th Feb

Took letters from Year 3 children at Sandcross Primary School in Reigate to Grade 3 children at Lutheran LBS in Abuko. 

Special shopping trip in afternoon… then sponsorship paid out for 3 children

Tue 18^th Feb

Day in Brikama - sponsorship paid out for 20 children, one child was given a dynamo radio and torch from his sponsor (great excitement!) and we took another family a 50Kg sack of rice from their children’s sponsor – again, this was received with great joy. 

Wed 19^th Feb

Fajara, Cape Point, Kotu and Bakoteh – a morning of NOT finding people (Anna at MRC, Gibbi at Cape Point and Modou at Kotu).  However, we still managed to pay sponsorship for 6 children, visited the YMCA learning centre,

sorted out University fees for another student and ended up at Billy’s for a late (4pm) lunch.  Wandifa and Abdoulie tucked in heartily but Ian and I could only manage one (huge) sandwich between us.

Thu 20^th Feb

South Gambia day – we visited St Francis UBS, Banyaka LBS (letters and gifts from 2 UK schools here), Gunjur LBS, Siffoe and then came back via Mindaw UBS (where we arranged to do a practical microscopy class session in April) and a couple of family compounds in Busumbala.  In all we paid sponsorship out to 18 children. 

Fri 21 Feb

Banjul day: we visited a new (to us) nursery school in Banjul – Unity Daycare and Nursery,  No children there as it was mid-term break, but we arranged to go back next week.  Visited Albion LBS and were surprised to find Tom and 2 other teachers there from Westdene Primary School in Brighton – we had not realised they would be there.  Had discussions re school funding with Albion Headteacher, Elisabeth, and then went to Albert Market to buy some ethical gifts – cooking pots & bowls, thermos flasks, and finally a huge sack of 40 family size mosquito nets, to take up-country with us on Monday. 

Sat 22 Feb

Serrekunda and Kanifing - sponsorship paid out for 9 children and bought some more ethical gifts – watering cans and small buckets for women’s gardens (like our allotments). 

Sun 23 Feb

Jambanjelly & Brikama:  Esther’s dresses day!  We collected Esther and Mike from their hotel – Esther and a group of friends had made 170 dresses for little girls and had also made shorts and donated shirts for little boys (about 40 in total).  We went to the north side of Jambanjelly first, which is where our ladies loan group is based, and gave out about one third of Esther’s goodies – such excitement, and the children just kept coming!  We repeated the whole thing at the south side of Jambanjelly, and then at Baba’s compound and surrounding area in Brikama.  What a success – Esther and her friends should be delighted with the result of all their hard work, as the children and their families were so thrilled.  In amongst all this we managed to pay out sponsorship to 9 children!

Mon 24 Feb

Kanikunda day!  A long day – we left at 6.30 am (VERY good packed breakfast from the hotel) and travelled along the south bank of the river for about 120 miles or so, calling in at Mayork SSS on our way to see our twin girls who are in their final year there.  We arrived at Kanikunda LBS at around 10am, were welcomed by the Headteacher, visited on-going projects and discussed new ones and delivered gifts of school uniform (donated by Willows Primary school) and exercise books (more ethical gifts) 

Tue 25 Feb

SOS SSS, St Therese’s LBS, Sukuta UBS, Kairaba SSS, YMCA and GTTI – visited students and teachers at all these schools, checking up on payment of fees and delivering a few gifts. 

Wed 26 Feb

First, to RVTH prosthetic clinic to arrange fitting of Modou Lamin’s new leg parts – we needed to buy a few materials for the clinic to be able to fit it, so Abdoulie went to do this while we went back to Unity Nursery to see the children and the school in action and to take them a couple of toys.  Very well organised little school – we will certainly go there for a sports etc morning in April.   

Visited a few students we had missed and then back to the hotel to start sorting out our room – no mean task!!  Final dinner at Billy’s – delicious!!

Thu 27 Feb

Packed up our cases AND the stuff we were leaving at Linda’s, paid our last bill, dropped in at Linda’s to leave stuff behind… and then to the airport.   Home via Las Palmas as we had to pick up more fuel, but at least it was a quiet night when we landed at Gatwick!  Until the next  time…..